Apparatus for producing intermittent motion

ABSTRACT

Intermittent movement of a work piece is produced from a rotary motor which drives the case of a differential. A cam integral with the differential case drives a gear rack slider having a pinion which drives one sun gear of the differential. Another sun gear of the differential is coupled to the first sun gear by planet gears. Output drive rollers are gear driven from the shaft of the second sun gear. A switch actuated by the slider may be employed to control an external machine or to control the operation of the motion producer itself.

Tlnited States Patent Defontenay [151 3,66,363 1 Apr. 18, 11972 [54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INTERMITTENT MOTION [72] Inventor: PaulDelontenay, Gourg La Reine, France [73] Assignee: Redex Societe Anonyme, lvry (Seine),

France [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 861,809 1 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 30, 1968 France ..l68224 [52] US. Cl ..74/394 [51] Int. Cl ..F16h 35/02 [58] Field of Search ..74/394, 393, 84 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,076,351 2/1963 Moss ..74/394 Primary liruminer-Milton Kuufmunn AlIorne v-Shapiro and Shapiro [57] ABSTRACT the operation of the motion producer itself.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEET 10F 2 mvmwon PAUL DEFONTENAY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3.656, 363

SHEET 2 OF 2 PAUL DEFONTENAY BY 5/20 0270 and Ska 91m ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INTERMI'I'IENT MOTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for producing intermittent or discontinuous motion and is more particularly concerned with driving a work piece intermittently from a rotary motor.

Cyclically operated machines, such as punching or forging presses, may require that a work piece, such as a wire or BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is a principal objectof the present invention to provide an improved, simple and highly versatile mechanical apparatus; for producing intermittent or periodic motion.

Briefly stated, in a preferred embodiment the apparatus of the invention comprises a differential, the case of which may be continuously rotated by a motor. A' cam fixed to the case drives a slider having a gear rack which drives a pinion fixed to a first sun gear of the differential. A second sun gear of the differential is driven from the first by planet gears, and the shaft of the second sun gear drives output rollers through output gearing.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred and exemplary embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates in horizontal section the apparatus of the invention as viewedin the direction of the arrows at line 1--1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus as seen in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view as seen in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view as seen in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the motion produced by apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, the apparatus employed in the invention may comprise a rotary motor Z, such as a conventional electric motor mounted on frame L, the shaft of ,the motor constituting the input shaft of the apparatus and driving the casing or housing E of a differential by means of a trans and rotatable in the differential casing E. An output gear His fixed to the same shaft as sun gear D and drives a pair of gears N fixed to shafts rotatable in the frame L and carrying output rollers P.

Rollers P may be V-gro'oved for driving a work piece Q,

such as a wire of circularcross-section. Other types of work pieces, such as'groups of wires or a sheet or ribbon, may be driven by suitable output rollers. Rollers P mate with idler rollers R supported upon bracketshaving one end biased by springs S toward rollers P and the other end pivotally connected to the frame L. A switch V may be operated by slider K for control of another machine. The switch may also be employed to make the operation of the device of the invention dependent upon another machine. 1 he rotational speeds of certain parts may be defined as folows:

U rotation speed of housing E w rotation speed of gears D and H and jointly of rollers P w, rotation speed of gears A and G The gear ratio of the differential may be defined as follows:

where, in this instance A,B,C, and D represent the number of teeth of the designated gears.

The kinematic relationships between the speeds U, ru are interdependent and are defined law as follows:

l by the well known Willis Control of the rotation speed to, is determined by cam (which turns with housing E) through the slider K and gear G. By virtue of the operation of the cam, gear G may have positive rotation, negative rotation, or no movement at all, depending upon the cam configuration. Since gear G is connected to gear H by means of the differential, it is apparent that the motion of output rollers P may be a succession of rotations and stops, consequently an intermittent motion. Rollers P may increase their speed progressively, then rotate uniformly, and then slow down until they stop, imparting an intermittent translational motion to wire Q. Sliding of the wire relative to the drive rollers is prevented by the push-rollers R.

If, for example, U 1 rpm. and p 1.5, the diagram of FIG. 5, which shows the variation of the speed of rotation o with an, is defined in accordance with the formulae given above. Thus, if cam J, during the first part of its rotation in one revolution, makes to, (through G) 0.333 r.p.m.w,, will be .zero. Then, if during the second part of the cam rotation, that is, for the remainder of the first revolution of the cam, in, is O.2 r.p.m. in, will be 0.8 r.p.m.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been. shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the type described, a mechanism for producing intermittent motion of an output shaft, which comprises a cam, means for rotating said cam, cam-follower means driven by said cam, and a gear train coupling said cam-follower means to said output shaft, said cam-follower means having a gear rack reciprocated by said cam, said gear train including a pinion driven by said rack.

2. In apparatus of the type described, a mechanism for producing intermittent motionof an output shaft, which comprises a cam, means for rotating said cam, cam-follower means driven by said cam, and a gear train coupling said cam-follower means to said output shaft said gear train comprising a differential having a housing, said means for rotating said cam comprising the housing of said differential.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said differential having a pair of sun gears, a first of which is driven from said cam-follower means and the second of which drives said output shaft.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said cam-follower means having a gear rack reciprocated by said cam, said gear train including a pinion driven by said rack and driving said first sun gear.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said sun gears being coupled by planet gear means.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said sun gears, said pinion, and said cam being supported for coaxial rotation. 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said rack having switch means actuated thereby. 

1. In apparatus of the type described, a mechanism for producing intermittent motion of an output shaft, which comprises a cam, means for rotating said cam, cam-follower means driven by said cam, and a gear train coupling said cam-follower means to said output shaft, said cam-follower means having a gear rack reciprocated by said cam, said gear train including a pinion driven by said rack.
 2. In apparatus of the type described, a mechanism for producing intermittent motion of an output shaft, which comprises a cam, means for rotating said cam, cam-follower means driven by said cam, and a gear train coupling said cam-follower means to said output shaft, said gear train comprising a differential having a housing, said means for rotating said cam comprising the housing of said differential.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said differential having a pair of sun gears, a first of which is driven from said cam-follower means and the second of which drives said output shaft.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, said cam-follower means having a gear rack reciprocated by said cam, said gear train including a pinion driven by said rack and driving said first sun gear.
 5. AppaRatus in accordance with claim 4, said sun gears being coupled by planet gear means.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said sun gears, said pinion, and said cam being supported for coaxial rotation.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, said rack having switch means actuated thereby. 